Musical instrument



June 7, 1927. 1,631,862

w. HANSELL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 25.- 1926 INVENTOR I ATI'ORNEYS Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HALTER I-IAN$ELL OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed May 25,

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a musical instrument and finds its preferred embodin'ient in a wind instrument of the all-metal type, in which a series of closed tubes are used, and in which vibrating reeds or similar devices are eliminated.

Preferably the instrument of the present invention is provided with a mouthpiece generally similar to the mouthpiece of a harmonica, and is played in the same manner as a harmonica by inhaling and exhaliug through the mouthpiece. The device may have either the same number of notes as a harmonica, or may cover any other range of not-es.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be played by anyone familiar with the method of playing a harmonica, and yet which will give a much sweeter, clearer tone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument of the general character noted above, of simple, practical construction, which is extremely unlikely to get out of order, which may be conveniently handled, and which will combine the simplicity of operation of the harmonica with the clear sweet tones of a metal instrument.

A further object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument which may be manufactured with comparative economy, and which may be readily disassembled for purposes of cleaning or repair.

\Vith the above noted and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction ant. combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention maybe more fully understood from the following oescription in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an instruu'ient' embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical. section through the instrument on the staggered line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional uetail on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figs. tand 5 are fragmentary perspective views of two of the tube sections.

In the drawings 1 have used the reference character 10 to designate an elongated 1926. Serial No. 111,607.

mouthpiece which may be in the nature of a metal bar, or may be of other suitable material. A series of metal tubes 11 each have one end disposed within the mouthpiece 10 and terminating flush with the face of the mouthpiece. The tubes 11 simply constitute an passages and the other ends of the tubes *arry sounding tubes 12. The tubes 12 are closed at both ends and are preferably formed of a pair of tube sections fitted into sleeves 13 integral with, or fixed to the tubes 11.

Inasmuch as the combined diameters of the tubes is considerably greater than the length of the mouthpiece 10 I arrange the tubes 12 in generally semi-circular or arcuate formation about the mouthpiece, the tubes 11 being properly bent to dispose the tubes 12 in lateral juxtaposition and in a general curved line. as best seen in Fig. 1.

Certain of the tubes 12 sound when air is drawn inwardly through their associated tubes 11, andothers of the tubes 12 sound when air is blown outwardly through their tubes 11. One of the inhaling tubes is indicated. in section in, Fig. 2, and one of the cxhaling tubes is shown in section in Fig. 3.

Referring first to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the particular inhaling tube shown consists of the two tube section 12 and 12*, the open ends of which face each other and are embraced by the sleeve 13. The tube 11 enters the sleeve 13 between the ends of the two tube sections 12 and 12 At the opposite side of the sleeve 13 there is an intak funnel 1 1 with its enlarged end outermost, so that the draft of air entering through the funnel will be in the nature of afine jet striking the edge of a dividing plate 15 carried by one of the tube sections 12?, 12*.

As shown in Fig. 2, and also in Fig. i the dividing plate 15 is in the nature of a rigid bridge extending partially across the bottom of section 12. The air jet entering through the funnel 14: is divided by the member 15, part of the air stream being directed into the tube section 12, and part being directed into the tube section 12. The air stream thus sets up vibrations in the two columns of air in the two tube sections, and the component of these vibrations produces a musical note which is audible at the funnel 1-l-.

One of the exhaling pipes is shown in Fig. 3, wherein it will be noted that the end of the pipe 11 is reduced at 11 and enters the sleeve 13 between the two sections 12 and 12 of one of the exhaling tubes 12. The air jet entering between the two sections of the tube is divided by a plate 17 and escapes through an outlet opening 18 arranged in the sleeve 13 opposite the tube 11.

Here again, the air stream in its passage from the tube 11 to the outlet 18 will set up vibrations in the columns of air contained in both of the tubes, and the component of these vibrations will he a tonal sound audible through the outlet 18.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the particular tones product-1d by the series of closed tubes a re subject to a wide range of variations,depending upon the relative lengths of the tube sections, as well as the combined lengths thereof. In order that the device may be readily played by one unfamiliar with it, I preferably use the same notes which are used on a barmonica, and anyone who plays a harominca will understand how to play the instrumentof the present invention.

In. order to amplify the tones, I enclose the funnels 14. and the outlet members 18 in amplifying horns 20. These horns are secured in any appropriate n'ianncr to the sleeves 13, and their closed upper ends are arranged closely adjacent the funnel 14. or outlet 18 as the case may be. The horns are of gradually increasing width toward their open lower ends, so that the tones emitted from the various tubes 12 will be amplified.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth,

but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a musical instrument, a sounding tube closed. at both ends and having a lateral air inlet and outlet in its intermediate portion. a transverse divider plate arranged in the tube adjacent the inlet for splitting the stream of incoming air to direct part of said stream toward both ends of the tube, said. tube including a pair of open ended opposed tube sections and a sleeve receiving the open ends of the sections.

2. In a musical instrument, a sounding tube closed at both ends and having a lateral air inlet and outlet in its intermediate portion, a transverse divider plate arranged in the tube adjacent the inlet for splitting the stream toward both ends of the tube, said divider plate constituting a transverse partition extending more than half the width of the tube, said sleeve having the air inletv and air outlet openings therein.

3. A musicalv instrument including a. mouthpiece, a series of sounding tubes closed at both ends, pipes constituting air passageways connecting the intermediate portions of all of said tubes to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece ends of said pipes being arranged in lateral juxtaposition.

4. A musical. instrument including a mouthpiece, a series of sounding tubes closed at both ends, pipes constituting air passageways connecting the intermediate ortions of all of said tubes to the moutl'ipicce, the mouthpiece ends of said pipes being arranged in lateral juxtaposition, the tubes being arranged in a curved series and spaced from the mouthpiece by the pipes.

5. A musical instrument including a mouthpiece, a series of sounding tubes closed at both ends, pipes constituting air passageways connecting the intermediate portions of all of said tubes to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece ends of said pipes being arranged in lateral juxtaposition, openings in the tubes arranged at ths opposite sides from the pipe openings.

6. A musical instrument including a mouthpiece, a series of sounding tubes closed at both ends, pipes constituting air passageways connecting the intermediate portions of all of said tube to the mouthpiece. the mouthpiece ends of said pipes being arranged in lateral juxtaposition, openings in the tubes arranged at the opposite sides from the pipe openings, one opening in each tube constituting an air inlet opening. the other opening in each tube constituting a air outlet opening. and non-vibratory tramzrcrse divider plates in the tubes for splitting the air streams entering through the inlet openings, certain of the tubes sounding as air is drawn in *ardly through the pipes, the other tubes sounding as air is blown outwardly through the pipes.

7 A musical instrument including a mouthpiece, a series of sounding tubes closed at both ends, pipes constituting air passageways connecting the intermediate portions of all of said tubes to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece ends of said pipes being arranged in lateral juxtaposition, openings in the tubes arranged at the opposite sides from the pipe openings. one opening in each tube constituting an air inlet opening, the other opening in each tube constituting an air outlet opening, and non vibratory transverse divider plates in the tubes for splitting the air streams entering through the inlet 0 enings, certain of the tubes sounding as air is drawn inwardly through the pipes, the other tubes sounding as air is blown outwardly through the pipes, said tubes each compris-' ing pairs of open ended tube sections facing each other, and sleeves carried by the pipes receiving the open ends of the sections.

8. A musical instrument including a mouthpiece, a series of sounding tubes closed at both ends, pipes constituting air passageways connecting the intermediate portions of all of said tubes to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece ends of said pipes being ar ranged in lateral juxtaposition, openings in the tubes arranged at the opposite sides from the pipe openings, one opening in each tube constituting an air inlet opening, the other opening in each tube constituting an air out let openin and non-vibratory transv divider plates in the tubes {or spiitting the air streams entering through the inlet openings, certain of the tubes sounding as air is drawn inwardly through the pipes, the other tubes sounding as air is blown outwardly through the pipes, said tubes each coniprising pairs of open ended tube sections facing each other, and sleeves carried by the pipes receiving the open ends oi the sections, the divider plates being formed transverse partitions partially closing the open end oi one tube of each section.

9. A musical instrument intduding mouthpiece, a series of sounding tubes closed at both ends, pipes constituting air passageways connecting the intermediate portions of allof said tubes to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece ends of said pipes being arranged in lateral juxtaposition, o 'ienings in the tubes arran ed at the on 70$li sides from the pipe openings, one opening in each tube constituting an air inlet opening, the

other opening in each tube constituting an air outlet opening, and non vibratory transverse divider plates in the tubes for splitting the air streams entering through the inlet openings, certain of the tubes sounding as air is drawn inwardly through the pipes, the

other tubes sounding as air is (down outwardly through the pipes, and amplifying horns arranged over the openings opposite the pipe openings.

10. A musical instrument including a mouthpiece, series of sounding tubes closed at both ends, pipes constituting air passageways connecting the intermediate portions of all of said tubes to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece ends of said pipes being arranged in lateral juxtaposition, openings in the tubes arranged at the opposite sides from the pipe openings, one opening in each tube constituting an air inlet opening, the other opening in each tube constituting an air outlet opening, non-vibratory transverse divider plates in the tubes for splitting the air streams entering through the inlet openings, certain of the tubes sounding as air is drawn inwardly through the pipes, the other tubes sounding as air is blown outwardly through the pipes, said tubes each comprising pairs of open ended tube sections facing each other, sleeves carried by the pipes receiving the open ends of the sections, and amplifiers carried by the sleeves, each closed at one end and flaring at its other end.

11. A device as set forth in claim 6, and wherein the inlet opening of each tube is restricted to cause an air jet to strike the edge oi the divider plate.

12, A device as set forth in claim 6, and wherein the mouthpiece is in the nature of an elongated bar receiving the pipe ends and the sounding tubes are supported by the pipes in a curved line spaced from the bar.

\VALTER HANSELL. 

